Hudson County Superior Court hours may change due to Skyway lane closures

Hudson County’s top judge is seeking to push back the hours of operation of the county courts due to traffic problems anticipated due to closure of the Pulasky Skyway’s northbound lanes.

Hudson County Assignment Judge Peter Bariso said today that he already has tentative approval form the state’s top judge to change the county court hours from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. to 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

But there are a number of issues still to be worked out and Bariso said he expects final word from the judiciary within the next two weeks.

Bariso said he expects some resistance to the schedule change.

One issue is that sheriff’s officers provide security at the two buildings where Superior Court courtrooms are located: the Brennan Courthouse and the Hudson County Administration Building, both in Jersey City.

But both buildings house offices other than the courts and the buildings’ doors open at 8:30 a.m. Unless the schedule is changed such that all building functions begin at 10 a.m. it will be necessary to figure out a way for sheriff's officers to provide security with a work day starting at 8:30 a.m. and ending at 6 p.m.

Sheriff’s officers are grumbling about the schedule change.

Sheriff Officers Local 334 President Jason Ochipinto said today that “No one has approached the union to tell us anything so I can’t really comment on it at this point.”

Bariso said from 25,000 to 40,000 vehicles use the northbound lanes of the Skyway between 6 and 9 a.m. The northbound lanes will close on March 3 and remain closed for two years as part of the Skyway renovation project.

Hudson County spokesman Jim Kennelly said the county has a contract with the sheriff’s officers and however the situation is resolved, “As far as the county, we are going to pay based on the contract.”